Tami’s Travels: Full articles on each site to follow
Over Christmas break, I spent a day exploring Reno, The Biggest Little City in the World, with friends Shonna and Austin of Nevada Expeditions. We visited Nevada’s oldest continually operating restaurant, the 1882 Nevada State Hospital cemetery, Lake’s Crossing, and the Reno depot of the historic Nevada, California, and Oregon Railway.
The Three Stooges, oops, I mean the Three Amigos!
On our first exploring trip together, we dubbed ourselves The Three Stooges. Needless to say, I’m Curly! We have had many great trips, including to Humboldt and Mono County. There are some people you click with; the three of us can find fun anywhere we go.
We started shopping at Scheels, then headed to The Depot, a distillery in the former depot for the Nevada, California, and Oregon Railroad. We planned to have lunch and “look for dead people,” specifically at the Nevada State Hospital cemetery.
Along the way, Austin took us on a tour of old Reno. He pointed out his favorite restaurant, Halfway Club. Casale’s us the oldest continually owned and operating restaurant in Nevada, so we turned around and headed back.
It was a little early for lunch, but we decided to try their homemade ravioli and cheesy garlic bread.
After eating enough garlic to ensure no vampires accosted us, we headed out to explore. But, darn it, The Depot wasn’t open yet. Oh wait, this meant we could explore more!
Nevada State Hospital Cemetery
Austin and I visited the Nevada State Hospital in October but did not find the cemetery or memorial.
The hospital opened in 1881 as the Nevada State Insane Asylum. The first patients, or “inmates,” as they were referred to, arrived by train in 1882 from Stockton, California. The asylum operated similarly to a Poor Farm, with the residents raising crops and livestock and operating a dairy. They provided for the hospital’s needs and sold excess.
The counties sent “old, harmless, incurable, idiotic and imbecile patients” to the asylum to alleviate their responsibility for caring for disabled residents. The hospital was soon overcrowded, with 196 patients in a facility designed for 160. In 1895, the legislature approved funding of $15,000 to add an annex.
Austin located the cemetery and memorial. Yet, strangely and disturbingly, the cemetery is now a dog park.
Initially, the cemetery grounds covered a large area, but it was relocated twice. As many records were lost, there is no exact number of how many people buried at the cemetery. Records indicated 767 people are interred, but there may be an additional 400.
An obelisk memorial was erected, listing the names of the known occupants. Each side has the cemetery information, then a list of names.
Road construction crews discovered additional remains during construction, and they were interred adjacent to the memorial.
Lake’s Crossing
Travelers headed to California through Truckee Meadows needed to cross the Truckee River. In 1859, Mr. Fuller began a ferry service and built a house along the river bank. In 1860, he built a toll bridge, but it was destroyed by flooding in 1862. Fuller traded the ferry crossing with Myron C. Lake for a ranch in Honey Lake.
Lake built a second bridge in 1863 and added a hotel, store, saloon and the settlement was named Lake’s Crossing. Lake donated land to the Central Pacific Railroad, creating a station stop at Lake’s Crossing. The Central Pacific Railroad sold parcels and renamed the station Reno after Union General Jesse L. Reno, who was killed in the Civil War.
Washington March built Lake’s Mansion in 1877. Lake purchased the beautiful two-story home in 1879. Upon their divorce in 1881, Lake’s wife took ownership. The house has been moved twice and is now the Arts for All Nevada office.
Reno Arch: The OG
While in the area, we stopped to photograph the original Reno sign. I have driven under it many times but never stopped. Thankfully, traffic was light. I wasn’t going to take a picture under the arch, but after Shonna did, I developed FOMO, fear of missing out.
Nevada, California, Oregon Railroad Depot
While preparing for my trip to Thunder Ranch, I learned about the Nevada, California, and Oregon Railroad. I visited the Reno depot building but didn’t have a chance to explore the inside.
The depot is now a brewery and restaurant. We had a snack of the most delicious Brussels sprouts and jalapeno hush puppies. It was a perfect end to a perfect day!
terry says
maybe if the person/people knew their grave was going to be turned in a dog park they might understand.
Tami says
I’m not how much of anything they would have understood. I heard some had mental health issues from chemicals and conditions in Comstock.